Hi, I have two desert tortoises that are about 2 years old. Last winter I kept them inside. Can they stay outside this winter? I live in Las Vegas and doesn't get very cold but there are times when the temperature gets down to freezing. I worry. If the temperature does get that low what do I do? Dig them out? Help! Thank you!
Desert Tortoises in Winter
- Thread starter ljaneway
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Hi, and welcome to the Forum!
I'm an advocate for allowing the hibernating species to do just that. Unless the animal is a new-to-you, first winter for you tortoise, or is sick, he should hibernate (my opinion).
If I have a young tortoise (right now I have two yearling Texas tortoises) I keep them up (set up indoors with lights and heat) for the first three winters with me. After three, I figure they're grown enough and strong enough to be able to hack hibernating. If I were in your shoes, with two 2 year olds, I would set them up indoors for this winter, with the goal towards allowing hibernation next winter.
You may get opposing views here, and that's fine. You need to read all the answers and figure out which would be best for you in your situation.
I'm an advocate for allowing the hibernating species to do just that. Unless the animal is a new-to-you, first winter for you tortoise, or is sick, he should hibernate (my opinion).
If I have a young tortoise (right now I have two yearling Texas tortoises) I keep them up (set up indoors with lights and heat) for the first three winters with me. After three, I figure they're grown enough and strong enough to be able to hack hibernating. If I were in your shoes, with two 2 year olds, I would set them up indoors for this winter, with the goal towards allowing hibernation next winter.
You may get opposing views here, and that's fine. You need to read all the answers and figure out which would be best for you in your situation.
Just putting them outside and allowing them to figure it out for themselves is like to result in their death.
You need to either get them a proper indoor set up and keep them warm and well lit all winter, or you need to hibernate them indoors under the correct conditions.
You need to either get them a proper indoor set up and keep them warm and well lit all winter, or you need to hibernate them indoors under the correct conditions.
You can go to a California Turtle and Tortoise site for directions on hibernation in a secure box, in a safe cool, area.
Hello from Las Vegas! I just dug mine out at lunch today (he'd only been in for 1 day) and brought him inside due to yesterday's crazy weather (I'm in the Summerlin area and we got hit pretty hard with really cold rain and winds). I have a feeling, and have heard the same from the meteorologists on the local news, that this winter is going to be a bit extreme temperature-wise for Vegas. More rain than usual with a legitimate chance of snow. El Nino and whatnot. My little guy is about the same age and I was thinking all summer that I could probably leave him out for the first time, but I think I'm going to wait for a winter that's predicted to be a little more temperate. I've always been a bit of a worrier when it comes to my tortoise, but I imagine if your tortoises are nice and healthy and you have a well dug burrow, then they will do what tortoises do best and survive. I don't have the experience of some of the folks on here, but I thought I'd give an opinion of someone local with a tort of approximately the same age who had to make the same decision.
I am not trying to take any visibility away from your question, I hope you don’t mind that I ask Yvon a quick one here Yvonne, I also live in Las Vegas, but I have one desert tortoise yearling (12-14 months). Set up is indoors, it seems no matter what temperature I change it to or what I do, she has decided that she is going to sleep. I didn’t let her last winter when she was just a hatchling,. This year, I just don’t think there’s anything I can do! however I’m super nervous about it.soooo nervous. I was wondering if it was OK to do like an abbreviated brumation. . . Maybe only put her down for like a month or six weeks or if the effects of this is worse. To me, feels like meeting in the middle, but I’m not sure if she sees it the same way.
Also newzie…hello Summerlin neighbor! Crazy week for weather. I got some amazing pictures of rainbows over Red Rock though
If I have one that just absolutely won't stay active no matter what I try, I allow it to settle for a couple weeks then I gradually wake it up, soaking in warm water, lengthenng the time the lights are on, etc.
My sister up in Oregon is good raising babies of all species, and if she has a sick one what has worked for her to get it interested in living once again is to carry it around in her hand, up next to her body, while she goes about her business in the house, doing housework, etc. @Maggie3fan
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